ID: 6273478
GEOG 5PO1 -Theoretical Approaches to the Critical Examination of Geographical Issues
Topic: Critical paper on More than human geographies
Date: 15/11/2017
Instructor: Professor Catherine Nash
Introduction
The study of human-environment interactions in geography has gone through a bewildering series of theoretical, philosophical and methodological revolutions in the past years, ranging from the environmental determinism, regional geography, regional science, quantitative-spatial science, radical-Marxist geography, structuralism, feminist geography to postmodern geography. As advocated by the humanistic geography where greater attention is given to humans and their consciousness in the analysis of geographical events, other scholars belonging to the more than human geographies questioned the rationality and the tenets of humanistic geography. Unlike the humanistic perspective in geography, the more than human geographies or posthumanistic geography has challenged the supremacy and hegemony status accorded humans in the analysis of the geographic
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The two entities are inseparable and based on this premise of inseparability between the humans and non-humans, nature and culture, it suffices to say that, though some of the arguments raised by the advocates of the humanistic geography might be valid, the overarching supremacy accorded to humans and its consciousness over other non-humans are far-fetched. As aptly put by Jones, “and somewhat understandably, humans tend to think of themselves and their societies as rather different to nature, and rather special” (2009,
Blij has clearly put this book into historical significance by mentioning the idea of geography and how it plays a role in societies all over the world. However, the five themes of culture regions, cultural diffusion, cultural interaction, cultural ecology, and cultural landscapes are all clearly defined within a specific context to a particular nation. Through reading this intriguing piece of literature I received the underlying notion that Blij firmly believes that landscapes of the world realm are not going to change. De Blij worldview of regions, diffusion, interaction, ecology, and landscapes has allowed him to simultaneously link issues together from the United States all the way to Southeast Asia.
Geographic luck, opinions of the natives, and cultural diffusion lead to conflict and Revolution in Latin America. Each of these variables play a major role in the cause of Latin America's conflict and revolution.
As Americans we live in isolation, surrounded by advertisements, electronic screens, fast food, the internet, etc. We live these lives while thousands scream out in hunger and thirst begging to nourish their families. Living lives in excess, often unknowingly supporting a system that is not sustainable, breeds capitalism, and unplugs us from the rest of the world. Having been raised in a typical suburban home my ideas of culture were going to Olive Garden or walking by Riverside in Minneapolis. However, Geography 111 has challenged what I believed, truly allowing me to grasp that I am not part of solution I am problem that spreads neocolonialism, capitalism, and western culture wherever a profit can be made. Learning about these topics and combining it with a geographical perspective I know will enable me to break from the molds and forge new paths.
With the enclosure movement as evidence, Locke adds complexity to the human-nature relationship by implicitly arguing that humans are superior to nature. Locke claims that humans are not only able to conquer nature, but by conquering nature human labor adds value to land. On the other hand, Goethe is adamant that humans are inferior to nature. Despite the extensive effort humans may exert, triumph over nature will remain elusive. Taking all of this into consideration, to what extent is the current interaction between humans and nature compatible?
Four years of my life have passed away in a blink! I remember entering freshmen year of
The phone is an example of an Independent Invention, because different people in different countries claimed to be the first to invent it.
Geography is the study of the physical features of the earth and its atmosphere, and of human activity as it affects and is affected by it, including the distribution of populations and resources, land use, and industries. Environmental influences, such as cost, changing weather, climate patterns, their potential impacts, and the threat of spreading diseases, are of increasing concern. Geography allows us to participate and enjoy our planet. It gives us a sense of reference to where we live and where we may be going in relationship to where we have been, and the appreciation of the world we live in. Anthropology is the study of human kind and culture, everybody wants to know where and how humans came to be. Our daily lives such as family, friends, co-workers and the under...
“All of us experience change in our lives. Change is the one constant in our lives. There are changes that we look forward to and change that we fear. However, one thing is for sure. Things will not stay the same no matter how much we would like them too”(Familyfriendpoems). The movie that this paper about is Smoke Signals by Sherman Alexie and directed by Chris Eyre. Smoke Signals is a movie about 2 Indians named Victor and Thomas and of their journey to Phoenix, Arizona to get Victor’s dad’s ashes. Thomas is the one who always tells stories and Victor is the one that had his dad leave him. Victor is the most changed character by the place that he visits. Before he goes to Arizona he is mad at his dad and doesn’t respect Thomas for who he is. But, when he goes to Arizona for his dad’s ashes he changes his thinking and realizes that he can’t be mad at his dad forever and he has to accept Thomas for the person that he is.
The Five Themes of Geography are: Location – Absolute points on a map or grid or Relative to where something may be; Place – The physical and/or human characteristics of a locations; Human/Environment Interactions – How humans have impacted the landscape or environment; Relationship between places Movement – How humans interact on the earth (i.e. how they communicate over distance (short or long)) and Regions – a unit of space that has commonalities defined by physical, human and environmental geography. The Explorers of the New World may have not known what the Five Themes of Geography were but they quickly learned. Of the five themes the ones that they all took advantage of was the physical Location and Place as they learned to navigate to and from as well as through their new environments. Over Time the explorers began to discover the relationships within their environments and original occupants of the lands as well as the regions in which they now occupied.
This book illustrates just how essential it is to be well-educated when it comes to geography. Throughout the book, Harm de Blij brings to our attention how illiterate Americans are when it comes to geography. He brings us This is an example of absolute location not to be confused with relative location because here, de Blij uses coordinates to indicate where the capitals are located. “Now the possibility arises that further global warming, speeded up by human pollution of the atmosphere, will cause a further rise in sea levels”(134).
climates,the formation of landforms, and plant and animal distribution. Working in closely related areas, the research of physical geographers and geologists often overlaps. Religion, languages, and cities are a few of the specialties of cultural (also known as human) geographers. Their research into the intricacies of human existence is fundamental to our understanding of cultures. Cultural geographers want to know why various groups practice certain rituals, speak in different dialects, or organize their cities in a particular way.
Human activity has major effects on geography. When studying the earth you can come to several conclusions about the geography of any particular civilization. Distribution of life in the civilization allows you to analyze whether their geography is their own destiny. Do people control their own destiny? Is geography something that people can control? Technology is really the key to why geography can be overcome by any people.
Hirsch, E. 1995. “Introduction, Landscape: between place and space” in Hirsch, E. (ed.) The Anthropology of Landscape: Perspectives on Place and Space. Oxford : New York: Clarendon Press.
De, Blij Harm J., and Peter O. Muller. Geography: Realms, Regions, and Concepts. New York: J. Wiley, 1997. 340. Print.
Social Studies education is a subject in today’s schools that is undervalued. The study of social studies in schools help young people develop the ability to make informed and reasoned decisions as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society in an interdependent world (Seefeldt, Castle, & Falconer, 2010). When participating in social studies class children are learning so much about who they are, where they came from, how to succeed in the world, and more. Most of what we teach daily includes an aspect of social studies. But, since the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001 de-emphasis or nonexistence of elementary social studies is the national focus because of high stakes testing (Sunal, & Sunal, 2008). Social studies